Apparatus for spraying



Oct. 11, 1966 D. E WOLFORD APPARATUS FOR SPRAYING 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledJuly 20, 1964 INVENTOR. DALE E. WOLFORD ATTORNEYS Oct. 11, 1966 woL o D3,278,124

APPARATUS FOR SPRAYING Filed July 20, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.DALE E WOLFORD BY i ATTORNEYS Oct. 11, 1966 D. E. WOLFORD APPARATUS FORSPRAYING 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 20, 1964 INVENTOR. DALE E.WOLFORDATTORNEY s United States Patent Ohio Filed July 20, 1964, Ser. No.383,605 11 Claims. (Cl. 23977) The present invention relates tospraying, particularly with respect to the spraying of insecticides andfungicides and other liquid chemical treatment materials on or in theregion of vegetation, such as trees and the like.

The spraying of liquid materials on vegetation such as trees and thelike, of course, is well known and is coinmonly accomplished bydirecting an air blast toward the region to be treated and entraining inthe air blast the liquid treatment material in the form of droplets thatare introduced into the air stream by being sprayed therein fromnozzles.

While this arrangement is generally satisfactory for conveying treatmentmaterial to plants and for distributing it thereon, it has certainpractical limitations that have not heretofore been overcome. In myco-pending application Serial No. 205,752, filed June 27, 1962, nowabandoned and entitled Method of Spraying, there is disclosed anarrangement for improving the effectiveness and efficiency of sprayingoperation of this nature. In brief, my prior application is concernedwith the introduction into the air blast of the liquid treatmentmaterial in the form of a fine spray projected into the air blast in thedirection of movement thereof and at no less than the same velocity asthe air blast and preferably, at a velocity slightly greater than thatof the air blast.

The effect of introducing the liquid treatment material in this manneris that a much higher degree of efficiency results because the airstream does not have to pick up and accelerate the treatment material,and it becomes possible to move much more air with a given horsepowerand to direct the air stream in a better manner.

The present invention is concerned with a further extension of theinventive thought of the prior application mentioned above and is also afurther improvement on my co-pending application Serial No. 250,176,filed January 8, 1963, now abandoned.

The present invention particularly relates to an apparatus for injectingliquid spray material into an air stream with means for varying thedirection of the liquid being sprayed into the air stream.

This results in greatly improved efiiciency of the spraying device withrespect to the direction of the spray material laden air and the unifonmdistribution of the spray material in the air blast, and makes thespraying device highly effective for certain classes of use. Forexample, in the spraying of trees in an orchard, the spraying device ismoved between rows of the trees and thus will be in the condition ofapproaching each tree, being beside each tree, and moving beyond eachtree. The opportunity is thus presented of delivering spray material tosubstantially 180 of the periphery of the tree during this movement ofthe spraying device in a straight line provided the air blast from thespraying device can be directed in the proper manner and providedfurther that the liquid treatment material is properly entrained in theair blast in a uniformly distributed manner.

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This is accomplished in brief by oscillating thenozzles from which theliquid spray emerges. The nozzles are located in a discharge air treamand are oscillated one or more times during the interval that thespraying device passes a given point such as the center of a tree. Aspraying device of this nature not only treats substantially half thetree in one pass but also treats it at different angles at which thespray material is delivered to the tree to effect a thorough althoughnot violent agitation of the foliage of the tree and thus provide for acomplete treatment thereof including the branches of the tree.

With the foregoing in mind, a primary object of the present invention isthe provision of a greatly improved method and apparatus for sprayingwhich results in more efiicient operation of the apparatus and moreuniform and effective distribution of the spraying material.

Another object of the present invention. is the provision of an airblast spraying device in which there is provided an arrangement foroscillating the liquid discharge nozzles which are located in the airblast and which nozzles discharge the liquid in the general direction ofthe air blast to create a turbulence in the air blast and to uniformlydistribute the liquid treatment material in the air blast.

The foregoing objects and advantages as well as other objects andadvantages of the present invention will become more apparent uponreference to the following specification, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a spraying device for thepractice of the present invention and including parts somewhatdiagrammatically illustrated;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the discharge end of the sprayingdevice showing a swingable nozzle discharge manifold disposed within thedischarge opening of the device;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view indicated by line 33 on FIGURE 2 showingthe swingable manifold from the side;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view indicated by line 4-4 on FIGURE 3 showingthe swingable manifold in cross section;

FIGURE 5 is a somewhat diagrammatic perspective view showing theactuating mechanism on one side of the machine for causing swingingmovement of the swingable manifold on the particular side of thespraying device;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view similar to FIGURE 2 showing how thedischarge nozzles can be arranged to swing about horizontal axes foroscillating the nozzles of the sprayer in a vertical direction; and

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view similar to FIGURE 6 showing anothermodification in which some discharge nozzles are oscillated in adirection opposite to the rest.

Referring to the drawings somewhat more in detail, FIGURE 1 shows aspraying apparatus in which there is a chassis 10 having supportingWheels 12 so that the spraying device can be drawn over the ground. Onchassis 10 is a tank 14 for receiving the liquid material to be sprayedfrom the device.

To the left end of the spraying device, as is viewed in FIGURE 1, is anengine department 16 in which there is an engine 18 indicateddiagrammatically in dot-dash outline. This engine drives a shaft 20 thatextends through a tube in tank 14 completely through the tank to theright or rear end of the spraying device where the said shaft isconnected with the propeller type air 1mpellers 22. These propellersdraw air inwardly through the air inlets 24 and 26 and this air is blownout laterally from the spraying device through the lateral opening 28.This opening may extend completely around the upper portion of thespraying device or it may consist of lateral openings only, or there maybe provided deflector blades toward the top of the opening for confiningthe air blast to a generally lateral and somewhat upwardly inclinedregion.

The motor 18 is also arranged to drive another shaft 30 extending intothe tank the having elements thereon (not shown) for maintaining theliquid treatment material in the tank agitated so that this material isuniform throughout the tank. The shaft 30 at its end opposite motor 18drives by means of chain 32, the output shaft of a speed reducer 34 thathas a crank 36 on its output shaft connected by a rotary joint with anoscillating drag link 38.

A particular feature of the present invention resides in the provisionof a swinging manifold means 40 in the discharge opening 28 at each sideof the spraying device. This manifold means 40 is best seen in FIGURES 2and 3 wherein it is seen to comprise a manifold pipe 62 having a supportmember 41 fixed thereto to the lower end thereof. The support member 41has the general arcuate shape shown and is fixed at its lower end topivot shaft 42 which is rotatably received in block 44 which is fixed tochassis 10. The upper end of manifold pipe 62 is fixed to a generally Lshaped support member 46 which has the remaining end of member 46rotatably mounted in pivot block 48 which is fixed to the deflectorstructure 50 centrally located in the spraying device in the plane ofthe discharge opening 28. Standard locking collars 43 on pivot shaft 42is used to adjust and fix the location of manifold means 40 in thesupport blocks.

There is a generally L shaped link 52 which is threaded at one end andwhich is secured to support member 41 at the other end. One end ofoscillating drag link 38 is pivotally connected to link 52 and securedthereon by a nut 53. It will be appreciated that oscillation of the draglink will cause swinging movement of manifold means 40 about its pivotalsupports. The actuating mechanism and the connection thereof between thespeed reducer 34 and the manifold means 40 will be seen in FIGURE 5.This figure will also reveal that crank arm 36 has a slot 54 therein inwhich the end of the drag link 38 can be adjusted thereby to change theangle through which the manifold means 40 will swing.

The speed with which the manifold means 40 oscillates can readily beadjusted by changing the sprockets 56 and 58 which form the driving anddriven sprockets respectively that connect the input shaft of speedreducer 34 with the agitator shaft 30. It will be understood that thereis generally provided manifold means 40 on each side of the machine, andin order to actuate the means on the opposite side of the machine, theoutput shaft 59 of the speed reducer 34 could extend out the other sidethereof as indicated at 60 in FIGURE 5, thereby providing for a crank 36on each side of the spraying device.

Another particular feature of the present invention resides in thearrangement for supplying spray material to the air blast that leavesthe discharge opening 28 of the spraying device. As will be seen inFIGURES 1, 2, and 3, manifold means 40 has a manifold pipe 62 as shown.This manifold pipe is closed at its upper end, and at its lower end isconnected with a fitting such as the elbow 66 to which therein isconnected a flexible high pressure supply hose 68 leading to thedischarge side of a relatively high pressure pump 70 that is arrangedfor being driven by engine 18, as indicated diagrammatically at 72. Thesuction side of pump 70 is connected by conduit 74 with tank 14. Theflexible hose will supply 4 the liquid treatment material to manifold 64but will not interfere with the movement of manifold means 40.

The manifold has connected thereto a plurality of spray nozzle elements76, each connected to the manifold by an angular conduit 78. The spraymaterial supplied under pressure to manifold 62 thus passes throughconduit 78 to nozzles 76 and is atomized therein and is projected intothe air blast from each nozzle in the form of the conical spray 80.According to the present invention, the velocity of each spray is atleast equal to the velocity of the air blast so that little energy, ifany, is taken from the air blast to accelerate the spray material and tocarry it along with the air blast. The conical spray 80, however,insures that the spray material will be uniformly distributed in the airblast.

The movement of the nozzles 76 with the manifold means 40 is moreeffective to fill the air discharged from the machine which is effectivein providing a uniform treatment of the liquid spray material on thevegetation being treated.

As will be seen in FIGURE 2, the nozzles 76 are arranged on both sidesof the manifold pipe 62 as shown. The manifold means on the oppositeside of the spraying device is arranged in the same manner as the onedescribed above.

FIGURE 6 shows a slightly different arrangement in which the manifoldmeans are oscillated on a horizontal axis instead of a vertical axis.

In FIGURE 6 there is a plurality of manifold pipes which are rotatablymounted in side members 91 as shown. Each of the pipes 90 has connectedthereto a flexible manifold 92 which is connected to another flexiblemanifold member 96. Each of the pipes 90 has nozzle assemblies generallyindicated at 94 through which the treatment liquid is discharged. Thepipes 90 each have an arm 08 thereon which are connected together bylinks in order to move the arms 98 in unison.

To the lowermost arm is connected the link 102 that is attached to oneend of a crank lever 104, the other end of which is connected with draglink 106 that corresponds to drag link 38 of the first describedmodification.

The vertical oscillation of the nozzles in accordance with the FIGURE 6arrangement has proved to be highly effective for the agitation of thefoliage of the vegetation being treated, and in most cases, theeffectiveness of the treatment of vegetation is as good for the FIGURE 6modification as it is for the FIGURE 2 modification. Both modificationsare characterized by the employment of swingable nozzle means so as tomore effectively fill the air stream with treatment liquid with theresult of more effective coverage of the vegetation being treated.

FIGURE 7 shows another modification which is similar to the controuctionof FIGURE 6 except adjacent manifold pipes 30 are made to rotate inopposite directions through a modified form of linkage.

In FIGURE 7 each of the pipes 90 has two arms 108 and 110 connectedthereto at apart. One of the arms 108 is connected to arm 110 of theadjacent pipe 90 by a curved link 112 as shown, so that the adjacentpipes 90 will rotate in opposite directions. Flexible manifold pipes 92can be made long enough to permit flexing and rotation thereof when thepipes 90 are rotated in opposite directions. This modification producesan exceptional amount of turbulence in the air stream which is effectivefor spraying the foliage.

As has been brought out in my previous application, the weight of liquidspray material may be about A; of the weight of the air moving throughthe discharge opening so that a substantial amount of energy is realizedby injecting the spray material in accordance with the presentinvention.

With respect to particular values that might be encountered, the airvelocity of 90 m.p.h. is not unusual with spray equipment of the naturedisclosed. The liquid material from the nozzles is moved at a velocitypreferably to 20% higher than the air velocity. The pressures employedfor obtaining good atomization of the liquid, while at the same timedeveolping the proper velocity thereon, will run from about 117 poundsper square inch on the liquid to about 200 pounds per square inch. Atpressures above 200 pounds per square inch there appears to be littlegain in machine performance with air velocities mentioned. This is dueto the logarithmic function of nozzle performance, whereby a unitincrease in pressure produces a diminishing unit increase in velocity atthe nozzle orifice.

Overall optimum machine performance is attained when the liquid materialfrom the nozzles is introduced at a velocity 10% to 20% higher than theair velocity. Pressures higher than those required to produce thisliquid velocity and the desired atomization are reflected by largeincreases in power required with only slight gains in machineperformance.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modificationin order to adapt it to different usages and conditions and accordingly,it is desired to comprehend such modifications within this invention asmay fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a spraying device, means for developing an air blast includingoutlet means in the device through which said air blast passes and whichoutlet means directs the blast in a predetermined direction, nozzlemeans for injecting liquid in the air blast in the region of said outletmeans, means movably supporting said nozzle means for oscillation insaid region of said outlet means, means connected to said nozzle meansfor supplying liquid treatment material thereto under pressure, andmeans connected to said nozzle means for oscillating said nozzle meanswhile continuing to discharge said air blast in said predetermineddirection to vary the direction of injection of the treatment liquidinto the air blast and the region of the air blast into which the saidliquid is injected.

2. In a spraying device, blower means for developing an air blast,casingmeans associated with the blower means including a dischargeopening for directing said air blast in a predetermined direction,nozzle means in said opening for discharging treatment liquid into theair blast issuing from said opening, manifold means movably mounted insaid discharge opening and having said nozzle means connected thereto,means for delivering treatment liquid under pressure to said manifoldmeans, and means connected to said manifold means for oscillating saidmanifold means in said discharge opening while continuing to dischargesaid air blast in said predetermined direction to vary the direction ofinjection of the treatment liquid into the air blast and the region ofthe air blast into which the said liquid is injected.

3. In a spraying device, means for developing an air blast, casing meansassociated with the blower means including a discharge opening fromwhich an air blast from the blower means discharges at high velocity,said discharge opening determining a predetermined direction of said airblast, manifold means movably mounted in said discharge opening, meansconnected to said manifold means for oscillating said manifold means insaid opening, while permitting said air blast to continue in saidpredetermined direction, means for delivering treatment liquid underpressure to said manifold means, a plurality of nozzle means positionedin said discharge opening and connected to said manifold means andadapted to spray said treatment liquid in said air blast, saidoscillation of said manifold means changing the direction of injectionof liquid into said air blast and the region of the air blast into whichsaid liquid is injected.

4. In a spraying device; blower means for developing an air blast,casing means associated with the blower means including a dischargeopening through which the air blast from the blower means discharges ata high velocity, said discharge opening determining a predetermineddirection of said air blast, manifold means movably mounted in saiddischarge opening, means connected to said manifold means foroscillating said manifold means in said opening, while permitting saidair blast to continue in said predetermined direction, means fordelivering treatment liquid under pressure to said manifold means, aplurality of spaced nozzle means positioned in said discharge openingcarried by said manifold means and adapted to spray said treatmentliquid into said air blast in the same general direction as the said airblast is moving while being oscillated with said manifold means, saidoscillation of said manifold means changing the direction of injectionof liquid into said air blast and the region of the air blast into whichsaid liquid is injected.

5. The device as claimed in claim 4 in which said manifold means isvertically mounted in said discharge opening and the oscillation thereofin said discharge opening is in a generally horizontal direction.

6. The device as claimed in claim 4 in which said manifold means aremounted in a horizontal direction in said discharge opening and theoscillation thereof in said discharge opening is in a generally verticaldirection.

7. The device as claimed in claim 4 in which said means for oscillatingsaid manifold means is adjustable for oscillating the manifold meansbetween predetermined limits and at adjustable speeds.

8. The device as claimed in claim 4 in which said manifold meanscomprises a plurality of spaced parallel manifold pipes which arehorizontally mounted in said discharge opening, said means foroscillating said manifold means comprising an arm on each pipe and linkmeans connecting said arm to collectively oscillate said manifold pipesin the same direction.

9. The device as claimed in claim 4 in. which said manifold meanscomprises a plurality of spaced parallel manifold pipes which arehorizontally mounted in said discharge opening, said means foroscillating said manifold means comprising an arm on each pipe and linkmeans connecting said arms and adapted to oscillate adjacent manifoldpipes in respectively opposite directions.

It). In a spraying device; an axial flow blower having a casing with alateral discharge opening arranged to discharge a high velocity airblast which is substantially fan shaped in a vertical plane, saidopening causing said air blast from the blower to discharge in apredetermined direction fixed relative to the blower casing, a pluralityof spaced manifolds extending laterally of said discharge opening andpivotally mounted therein and oscillatable on their respective pivotalsupports, a plurality of spaced nozzles positioned in said dischargeopening and connected with each said manifold and adapted to injecttreatment liquid in said air blast in the general direction of movementof said air blast, each nozzle being supported by its respectivemanifold in spaced relation to the manifold so that the nozzles willoscillate in said discharge opening along curved paths upon oscillatorymovement of the manifold, flexible conduit means connected to each saidmanifold and leading to a common supply manifold member, means fordelivering treatment liquid under pressure to said common supplymanifold member and therefrom to said manifolds and the nozzles carriedthereby, each said manifold having arm means rigidly connected to oneend thereof and extending angularly to the respective manifold, linkspivotally joining the said arm means of adjacent manifolds together soas to cause said manifolds to oscillate in unison in said dischargeopening thereby to cause said nozzles also to oscillate in unison insaid discharge opening while said air blasts continues in one and thesame said predetermined direction, said oscillation of said nozzlesvarying the direction of injection of treatment liquid into said airblast and the region of the air blast into which said treatment liquidis injected, and means connected to one of said arms for oscillatingsaid manifold together with the nozzles supported thereon in saidopening.

11. A spraying device according to claim 10 in which the points ofpivotal connection of said links with the said arm means of eachmanifold is on the opposite side of the respective manifold from thepoint of connection of the links with the arm means of the next adjacentmanifold so that adjacent manifolds will oscillate in unison but inrespectively opposite directions.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS EVERETT W. KIRBY,Primary Examiner.

1. IN A SPRAYING DEVICE, MEANS FOR DEVELOPING AN AIR BLAST INCLUDINGOUTLET MEANS IN THE DEVICE THROUGH WHICH SAID AIR BLAST PASSES AND WHICHOUTLET MEANS DIRECTS THE BLAST IN A PREDETERMINED DIRECTION, NOZZLEMEANS FOR INJECTING LIQUID IN THE AIR BLAST IN THE REGION OF SAID OUTLETMEANS, MEANS MOVABLY SUPPORTING SAID NOZZLE MEANS FOR OSCILLATION INSAID REGION OF SAID OUTLET MEANS, MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID NOZZLE MEANSFOR SUPPLYING LIQUID TREATMENT MATERIAL THERETO UNDER PRESSURE, ANDMEANS CONNECTED TO SAID NOZZLE MEANS FOR OSCILLATING SAID NOZZLE MEANSWHILE CONTINUING TO DISCHARGE SAID AIR BLASE IN SAID PREDETERMINEDDIRECTION TO VARY THE DIRECTION OF INJECTION OF THE TREATMENT LIQUIDINTO THE AIR BLAST AND THE REGION OF THE AIR BLAST INTO WHICH THE SAIDLIQUID IS INJECTED.